Diagnostic device for morpho-functional investigations

Abstract

A diagnostic device for morpho-functional investigations includes a plurality of measuring elements ( 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 ) of the scintillation type, positioned around a receiving area ( 3 ) for performing relative three-dimensional investigations on different parts of a patient (P) positioned in the receiving area, the first ring ( 5 ) having an internal diameter (d) less than the internal diameter (D) of the second ring ( 6 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A diagnostic device for morpho-functional investigations, comprising:
 a base having a receiving area designed to receive a patient during a diagnostic investigation treatment; and 
 measuring means mounted on the base for performing a diagnostic investigation of at least a part of the patient (P) positioned in the receiving area, 
 wherein the measuring means comprise at least a first measuring ring, a second measuring ring and a third measuring ring, said measuring rings being positioned around the receiving area and designed to perform relative investigations on different parts of the patient, the first measuring ring being of the scintillation type and having an internal diameter less than the internal diameter of the second measuring ring and of the third measuring ring, 
 wherein the base comprises a support structure on which the measuring rings are applied, the first measuring ring being located in a position corresponding to a portion of the receiving area designed to receive the head of the patient and the second and third measuring rings being located in a position corresponding to a portion of the receiving area designed to receive the bust of the patient, and wherein the measuring rings are positioned according to respective substantially horizontal planes, 
 wherein the support structure extends in a substantially vertical direction for positioning the first measuring ring above the second and third measuring rings, and 
 wherein one of the second and third measuring rings is designed to perform only a PET type investigation and comprises an annular outer case and a succession of scintillation elements located within the annular outer case, whilst the other of the second and third measuring rings is designed to perform only a SPECT type investigation, said second and third measuring rings being configured to be selectively activated or deactivated depending upon a specific detection to be carried out on the patient, with the deactivated ring remaining lowered or raised above the head level of the patient. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one backrest to form a stable support for the back of the patient positioned inside the receiving area both when standing up and when sitting down. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the backrest comprises a pair of stabilization protrusions designed to form a contact point and a stable gripping point for the patient and designed to keep the patient in a predetermined posture suitable for the diagnostic investigation. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the measuring rings are slidably mounted on the support structure to slide along the support structure in such a way as to perform a three-dimensional investigation along the body of the patient positioned in the receiving area. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 4 , further comprising motor means associated with the measuring rings for moving each of the measuring rings independently along the support structure. 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the internal diameter of the first measuring ring is greater than the maximum transversal dimension of the head of the patient. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the internal diameter of the second and third measuring rings is greater than the maximum transversal dimension of the bust of the patient. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the measuring rings extend around relative axes, preferably in an axially symmetric fashion, and wherein the axes are parallel to each other and preferably coincident. 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein,
 the second measuring ring is designed to perform the PET type investigation and comprises the annular outer case and the succession of scintillation elements located within the annular outer case, the succession of scintillation elements being movable laterally by rotating around the receiving area in such a way as to acquire at least two images rotated between each other by a predetermined angle, and 
 the third measuring ring is designed to perform a SPECT type investigation and comprises another annular outer case and another succession of scintillation elements associated with a collimator and included inside the another annular outer case, the another succession of scintillation elements being movable laterally by rotating around the receiving area in such a way as to acquire at least two further images rotated between each other by a predetermined angle. 
 
     
     
       10. The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the collimator comprises a plurality of variable length collimation elements, independent from each other and each associated with a corresponding scintillation element, the collimation elements being movable independently to each other for identifying a specific variable collimation length for each scintillation element. 
     
     
       11. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth measuring ring, designed to perform only a CT investigation and located in a position corresponding to a portion of the receiving area designed to receive the bust of the patient. 
     
     
       12. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the internal diameter of the first measuring ring is between 30 and 50 cm. 
     
     
       13. The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the internal diameter of each of the second and third measuring rings is between 60 and 100 cm. 
     
     
       14. The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the internal diameter of each of the second and third measuring rings is equal to 80 cm. 
     
     
       15. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the internal diameter of the first measuring ring is equal to 40 cm. 
     
     
       16. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein,
 each of the measuring rings is axisymmetric in shape about a common axis that coincides with a direction of extension of the receiving area, such that the each of the measuring rings extend on a circular line, adopting a toroidal shape, 
 an internal diameter of the first measuring ring being between 30 and 50 cm, 
 an internal diameter of each of the second and third measuring rings being between 60 and 100 cm, 
 wherein the support structure supports the first measuring ring ( 5 ) above the second and third measuring, the measuring rings being independently movable along the common axis, and 
 the second measuring ring is structured to performs the PET type investigation for dedicated organs while the third measuring ring performs only one morphological investigation other than the PET type investigation. 
 
     
     
       17. A diagnostic device for morpho-functional investigations, comprising:
 a base having a patient receiving area and a support structure; and 
 measuring means mounted on the base for performing a diagnostic investigation of the patient (P) positioned in the receiving area, 
 wherein the measuring means comprise at least a first measuring ring, a second measuring ring, and a third measuring ring movably mounted on the support structure and positionable according to respective substantially horizontal planes around the receiving area to perform relative investigations on different parts of the patient, with the first measuring ring being positionable in a position corresponding to a portion of the receiving area designed to receive the head of the patient and the second and third measuring rings being positionable to a position corresponding to a portion of the receiving area designed to receive the bust of the patient, 
 wherein the first measuring ring is a scintillation type and having an internal diameter less than an internal diameter of the second measuring ring and less than an internal diameter of the third measuring ring, 
 wherein the second measuring ring is designed to perform only a PET type investigation and comprises an annular outer case and a succession of scintillation elements located within the annular outer case, 
 wherein the third measuring ring is designed to perform only a SPECT type investigation, and 
 wherein said second and third measuring rings are configured to be selectively activated or deactivated depending upon a specific detection to be carried out on the patient, with the activated ring being moved into position for the specific detection while the deactivated ring does not move and remains above the head level of the patient. 
 
     
     
       18. The device according to  claim 17 , wherein the measuring rings are slidably mounted on the support structure to individually and independently slide along the support structure in such a way as to selectively move one of the rings while the other rings are not moved. 
     
     
       19. The device according to  claim 17 , wherein,
 the second measuring ring is designed to perform the PET type investigation and comprises the annular outer case and the succession of scintillation elements located within the annular outer case, the succession of scintillation elements being movable laterally by rotating around the receiving area in such a way as to acquire at least two images rotated between each other by a predetermined angle, and 
 the third measuring ring is designed to perform a SPECT type investigation and comprises another annular outer case and another succession of scintillation elements associated with a collimator and included inside the another annular outer case, the another succession of scintillation elements being movable laterally by rotating around the receiving area in such a way as to acquire at least two further images rotated between each other by a predetermined angle. 
 
     
     
       20. The device according to  claim 17 , wherein,
 each of the measuring rings is axisymmetric in shape about a common axis that coincides with a direction of extension of the receiving area, such that the each of the measuring rings extend on a circular line, adopting a toroidal shape, 
 wherein the support structure supports the first measuring ring ( 5 ) above the second and third measuring rings, the measuring rings being independently movable along a common axis, and 
 the second measuring ring is structured to performs the PET type investigation for dedicated organs while the third measuring ring performs only one morphological investigation other than the PET type investigation.